Ferret with arrhythmia?

RE: Ferret with arrhythmia?

Marie Kubiak — Mon, 13 Feb 2017 21:21:14 GMT

[quote user="Elisabeth Knappett"]Thanks Marie - mind if I use this soundbite! [/quote]

Not at all. Good luck!

RE: Ferret with arrhythmia?

Elisabeth Knappett — Mon, 13 Feb 2017 19:18:19 GMT

[quote user="Marie Kubiak"]The owner really needs to accept their ferret has a potentially serious condition and managing it requires some input on their part! I tend to have a very firm discussion at this point and tell them if they can't/won't fund basic investigation then they are also not in a position to fund lifelong medication and monitoring, and it is not safe to give medication interfering with cardiac activity without knowing if we are targeting the cause properly.[/quote]

Thanks Marie - mind if I use this soundbite! Have spoken again with them today and may have swung them to the idea of an ECG - will post further results if I get them.

RE: Ferret with arrhythmia?

Marie Kubiak — Mon, 13 Feb 2017 17:42:06 GMT

An ECG will be cheaper than trying various medications unsuccessfully! The owner really needs to accept their ferret has a potentially serious condition and managing it requires some input on their part! I tend to have a very firm discussion at this point and tell them if they can't/won't fund basic investigation then they are also not in a position to fund lifelong medication and monitoring, and it is not safe to give medication interfering with cardiac activity without knowing if we are targeting the cause properly.

I certainly wouldn't be brave enough to try antiarrhythmic drugs without much clue of what was going on and which one was appropriate. Cardiovets may have some more practical input, ferrets are typically investigated and treated in the same way as cats but doses may need increasing slightly if effects are incomplete.

Marie

RE: Ferret with arrhythmia?

Gillian Mostyn — Mon, 13 Feb 2017 12:53:05 GMT

[quote user="Elisabeth Knappett"] unfortunately, another of these owners that wants everything possible done but nothing to cost a penny[/quote]

Oh so familiar...

RE: Ferret with arrhythmia?

Elisabeth Knappett — Mon, 13 Feb 2017 11:44:42 GMT

Not difficult at all - exactly what I recommended - BG on Accucheck was normal and no sign of mass in pancreatic region (though I am not an expert!), should have included that information, sorry! Euthanasia has been brought up but will not be considered, unfortunately, another of these owners that wants everything possible done but nothing to cost a penny, working on that expectation at the moment.

RE: Ferret with arrhythmia?

Mark Rowland — Mon, 13 Feb 2017 11:09:44 GMT

Sorry to be difficult but you really need to get some more information. There are many possible causes some are metabolic and some are cardiac.

Bloods and a heart work up are required. can you even get a blood glucose for these weakness episodes as insulinoma is a possibility and cheap to diagnose?

This is quite an old ferret so if the owners won't stretch to a work up, euthanasia is an option.

In terms of drugs, I have used all sorts but you have to get an idea about what you are treating first.

Goodluck